Opportunity focus means entrepreneurs always have one eye out for new opportunities and the other on the problems that need to be solved. Holistic thinking involves seeing all aspects of a problem and being able to integrate knowledge from various disciplines.
Entrepreneurs think creatively and use leadership skills to inspire others.
Here is what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur:
Education: Entrepreneurship is not learned in the classroom. You can't take a course on entrepreneurship and expect to become one or run a successful business. Entrepreneurs are self-taught and learn as they go along. They tap into resources within their network and learn from those who have done it before them. Entrepreneurship is built on experience, not education so don't worry if you don't have that degree from your favorite school.
Business Experience: Although entrepreneurship does not require business experience, it helps to have some knowledge about how businesses are run and the ins and outs of best business practices. Ideally, you should work for another company for a few years before striking out on your own. That way you can learn about finance, operations, sales and marketing, management, and other key areas of business all of which will help you start your own company in the future.
Passion. Entrepreneurs are very passionate about their businesses. They tend to be optimistic and have an innate drive to succeed. They often find it difficult to stop thinking about their business, even when they're not working on it.
Financial Knowledge. Entrepreneurs need to have a basic understanding of finances and accounting, so they can understand the financial implications of their decisions.
Organisational Skills. All successful entrepreneurs need to be able to organize a myriad of details and tasks related to their business, as well as delegate tasks when necessary.
Communication Skills. A successful entrepreneur needs to be able to communicate clearly and effectively with his or her employees.
Leadership Skills. Entrepreneurs need strong leadership skills, as they are responsible for overseeing all aspects of their business, including hiring and firing employees, managing managers and more.
The qualities of a good entrepreneur are many and varied. Some are inherited, some can be learned.
